What You Need to Remember about Smartphones Before Giving One to Your Kid

By
Melissa Maypole on
04-10-2013

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If you have a Smartphone yourself, then you may think you know everything there is to know about these devices. However, these harmless handheld computers can turn into something entirely different when placed in a child's hands. Like any other tool, a Smartphone can be good or bad, depending upon how it's used. Before you give your child a Smartphone (and we know they're begging for one), there are some things you need to remember about these devices.

They have cameras

Parents use these cameras to take cute pictures of their kids and/or animals to post on Facebook. Harmless, right? Kids aren't taking pictures of toddlers or kittens, though. Most teens use their Smartphones to take pictures of themselves and their friends. Unless, they're careful, even a photo taken "just for fun" at a sleepover or party can turn into a lifetime of regret.

They can connect to the Internet

In many ways, a mobile phone can be even more powerful than a computer these days, so when you think about safety measures for your child's phone, you need to remember that they can access anything on the web right from her phone—that is, unless you take precautions to keep them from accessing inappropriate content.

They can download apps

Apps can be useful and fun, but they can also be dangerous. Unless there are parental controls on your child's Smartphone, there's nothing stopping them from downloading mature content, including apps of a sexual or violent nature.

They can delete things

Photos and images can be deleted from Smartphones, so even if you pick up your child's phone from time to time to read their texts or look through their pictures, you may not be getting the full picture. You need a better system if you really want to see that your child is using their phone properly.

When you're ready to bite the bullet and purchase a Smartphone for your kid, be sure to equip it with the necessary safety features before handing it over. Qustodio for Android can give you the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your child has a way to communicate with you when necessary that doesn't put them in harm's way.